Roman Continuities

Between 500 BCE and 500 CE, the Roman civilization experienced changes both politically and culturally. Firstly, Rome’s government transitioned from a Republic to an Empire. Later, that empire was split into two parts; east and west. In terms of changes in culture, it was impacted by the shift in religion, as the Romans shifted from polytheism to monotheism. Despite all the changes, Rome still remained culturally diverse.

The Roman Empire is still known today as one of history’s most powerful period. Rome government had stick rules and policies. The Roman government at this point was known as the Roman Republic. The Roman Republic was controlled by the roar Rome. Bureaucracy was ran throughout the region, but Rome did not want this nor could they afford it. However, they did allow small cities to run a lower level of government. The exercise of indirect rule thus became a basic principle of imperial government. The business of local administration and jurisdiction was delegated to the existing communities of city or tribe. This type of structure was deemed to be a weakness to some historians because of the consequences. Consequences that allow a third level government to enforce the emperor’s rules. Because of the expansion of the territory, this was the only reasonable way for it to function normally. The empire was a "commonwealth of cities" which acted as economic and cultural of the Roman world and were integrated into the administrative system as local foci of government. This imperial ruling was first implemented by Rome. It came about because of social trends and not the Roman strategic policies that was often changed by Romanized upper class citizens. These upper classman brought about firmness throughout the land with their strategic and educated planning.

Though the roman empire and the roman republic vary in their political structures they are quite common in the structures of their social hierarchy and reasoning for their downfalls.

(Source 1). "The benefits of life under Augustus were too great to throw away lightly". Octavian kept the people and the Senate happy, they weren't inclined to rebel and Rome was its turmoil, allowing it to flourish and grow to be an empire remembered forever. This peace was made possible by Octavian who became a devoted leader but also listened and controlled the senate very carefully, which his predecessor, Julius Caesar, failed to do. He understood the treatment of the senate would allow the people to adore him because in their hearts it reminded them of the former

The Roman Republic was a “democratic” republic, which allowed first citizens to vote, and to choose their governors in the senate (Hence, their consuls). However, it was a nation ruled by its aristocracy, and, consequently, the entire Republic`s power was concentrated in a few individuals. Furthermore, the Senate was controlled by Patricians, which directed the government by using wealth to buy control and power over the decisions of the senate and the consuls. This situation aroused the inconformity of the people; as result, a civil war took place in the Republic (destroying it), and then the Roman Empire was born.

It is clear that the dynamics that characterized Rome’s society during the Republic were never easy. There was a constant push and pull of intentions and interests between Patricians and Plebeians. The Patricians always wanting to maintain economic and political supremacy while the Plebeians were in constant

He said that in the government “self-restraint, integrity, and virtue were disregarded; unscrupulous conduct, bribery, and profit-seeking were rife” (Sallust, 58). The Republic was replete with greedy conspirators who valued their own gain more than they valued the condition of Rome. According to Sallust, “as soon as wealth came to be a mark of distinction and an easy way to renown, military commands and political power, virtue began to decline” (Sallust, 58). As money became more and more important, the quality of the government in the Roman Republic plummeted. Octavian rose to power when he inherited Caesar’s position as Consul and defeated the other Consul, Mark Antony.

Ancient Rome consisted of two main forms of government, the Republic and the Empire, each of which lasted about five centuries. At first, Rome was a republic, governed by members of wealthy classes. As the Republican form of government continued, a series of civil wars led to the breakdown of the system, and a new form of government, the Empire, was established in its place. The Empire began with a prolonged period of peace, the Pax Romana. However, like the Republic, the Empire also turned foul and collapsed after the Pax Romana. Still, a citizen of the Empire was better off than a citizen of the Republic. Health problems were less severe in the Empire than in the Republic. Moreover, the Empire was more peaceful and better able to provide necessities for average citizens than the Republic was. The political situation was also better in the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire generally provided a healthier and higher quality of civic life than the Roman Republic.

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian hereinafter referred to “Augustus”, was given the title of imperium by age of 19, to gain this, he amassed a private army and marched on the Senate in Revenge for his adopted father’s murder. Augustus developed a peaceful and cultural Ancient Rome . In contrast, both Caesar and Sulla before him, were appointed to dictator under the Lex Valeria (Valerian law) , both had ultimate goals of monarchy, but where Caesar, used the people to ascertain if this would be accepted , Sulla ruled with an iron fist.

Julius Caesar's reign was an unfavorable and chaotic period for Rome, and after his death, a large portion of the empire was handed down to his adopted son, Gaius Octavian. From the ashes of his father, Octavian was able to build an Empire unparalleled. Later, the name Augustus was given to him by Senate. Augustus ostensibly maintained the form of the Roman Republic while in actuality creating the Roman Empire. He introduced the administrative reforms that led to the Pax Romana with its flourishing of trade and the arts. Although Augustus's ascension to power could have not been without it bequested by Julius, it was his use of art and propaganda that reinforced the legitimacy his position.

Shortly after Caesar was betrayed by his own people (led by the republican nobles Brutus and Gaius Cassius) his great nephew and adopted heir Octavian, joined forces with Mark Antony to crush Brutus and Cassius and divided power in Rome with ex-consul Lepidus, in what was known as the Second Triumvirate. With Octavian leading the west, and Antony the east, a tension was soon to be developed, because the greed of power is inevitable. Around 31 B.C Octavian triumphed over Antony and crushed him in the battle of Actium, and by 29 B.C Octavian was sole ruler and leader of Rome, and all its provinces. To avoid meeting Caesar’s fate, he made sure to make his position as absolute ruler acceptable to the public by apparently restoring the political

Octavian, the sole heir and successor of Julius Caesar overcame significant impediments in his rise to becoming Rome’s first emperor. Aged only nineteen at the time of Caesars assassination in March 44BC Octavian’s intelligence and fortitude proved successful over the barriers of youth, inexperience and the political opposition that he faced. Octavian went on to have one of the most famous political careers of all time to defeat the Senate, Marc Antony, and gain sole control over the Roman Empire.

The fate of a nation determined by one man. With classic alliances and betrayals, the tale of Julius Caesar is still regarded as one of the greatest betrayals in human history. The fate of Rome was heading toward a dictatorship. Only the Roman Republic could stop Julius Caesar from ruling Rome. Little did the Roman Republic know that this assassination would later cause Octavian Caesar to become the first Emperor of the Roman Empire in 27 B.C.E. There is much to know about Julius Caesar. He was raised as a military man at a young age from his father who would eventually pass away on Caesar’s sixteenth birthday. He also created the first governing triumvirate (Roman Republic) in 60 B.C.E.

He centralised the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed "dictator in perpetuity", giving him additional authority. But the underlying political conflicts had not been resolved, and on the Ides of March 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated by a group of rebellious senators led by Marcus Junius Brutus. A new series of civil wars broke out, and the constitutional government of the Republic was never fully restored. Caesar 's adopted heir Octavius, later known as Augustus, rose to sole power after defeating his opponents in the civil war. Octavius set about solidifying his power, and the era of the Roman Empire began.

Following the assassination of Julius Caesar by the Senators of the republic on the ideas of March in 44BC, Rome descended into a bloody civil war which lasted a decade. Although the senators had cunningly planned the murder of Caesar, it became apparent that they did not possess the foresight to consider who may fill the gaping power vacuum created by Caesar's absence. The conflict between Mark Antony and Octavian developed out of their battle supremacy in their failed alliance, and the victory of either would undoubtedly have a profound effect on the Rome and its provinces, solidifying the importance of the conflict. Unlike the unscrupulous and initial union between Caesar, Crassus and Pompey, the Second Triumvirate was legally recognised and binding under Treaty of Brundisium, with each triumvir assigned sectors to preside over. With an embarrassing ease, Octavian had forced Lepidus to live out his days exiled in Africa, leaving only Mark Antony and Octavian to contest the rulership of Rome following the expiration of the treaty in 33BC. Tensions grew between the men, as evident in Suetonius’ claims that Mark Antony taunted Octavian, saying of him that “’he could not even stand up to review his fleet when his ships were already at their fighting stations; but lay on his back and gazed up at the sky, never rising to show that he was alive until his admiral Marcus Agrippa had routed the enemy’” The Battle of Actium